Charles Taylor

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. The gentleman makes good points, and if he and I were the only two Members of Congress, we could probably sit down and come up with a tighter bill. There are 435 Members in the House, and we have 100 over in the Senate. We have tried to put together a balanced bill. Because of that, we have cut many things and had a very difficult time in doing it. I would have to strongly object to the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First I all I would like to read a letter from the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: ``Dear Chairman Taylor: ``This is regarding the November 2003 Draft Blending Policy which addresses the management of peak wet weather flows at municipal wastewater treatment facilities. The draft policy received extensive public comment and has been the subject of considerable ongoing discussion and debate, including being the focus of a recent hearing before the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. ``Based on our review of all of the information received, we have no intention of finalizing the blending policy as proposed in November 2003. We continue to review policy and regulatory options to manage this issue.'' I think this letter is self-explanatory. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, it is my understanding, but I would like to talk with the gentleman. This is a new area, a new part of the committee, and I would like to work with him as we go on with the bill toward conference. But that is my understanding.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the gentleman's activity. We will work with him. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise. Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Terry) having assumed the chair, Mr. Shimkus, Acting Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2361) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve my point of order, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. For the purpose of engaging in a colloquy, I yield to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I would be happy to discuss this matter with the gentlewoman from South Dakota.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. I yield to the gentlewoman from South Dakota.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I am aware of the devastating fire that occurred on the Crow Creek Reservation. I agree with the gentlewoman that it is vital that the BIA begin construction of temporary facilities immediately so that they can be ready for the beginning of the school year this fall. Reprogramming requests for Crow Creek Tribal education facilities that come before this committee will be reviewed and approved as quickly as possible.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I certainly agree with the gentlewoman that this fire was unexpected and devastating to the school, and that that is precisely the type of event that would trigger the emergency authority of the BIA to reprogram funds, and I join the gentlewoman in urging the OMB to review these requests as soon as possible.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, we would accept the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The amendment would increase the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by $100 million and cut special project grants under the State and Tribal Assistance programs by $100 million. The committee's recommendation for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is identical to the level in the House bill for this program in fiscal year 2005. Almost every Member of Congress wrote to the subcommittee requesting one or more STAG projects. These projects are often the only recourse for rural communities that, for whatever reason, are unable to qualify for a loan under the Clean Water or Drinking Water revolving funds. I admire the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) willingness to sacrifice special STAG projects to increase the Clean Water Fund. The Committee has a very difficult time in making these decisions. I do not believe it is an appropriate approach, given that these projects address critical infrastructure needs that otherwise might never be addressed, and I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to work with the authorizing committee chairman. I want to assure the chairman that I will work to remove or modify objectionable provisions under his jurisdiction as we move the bill into conference.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I have reviewed the gentleman's amendment and am willing to accept it. I have already notified the Senate of the changes we agreed upon with respect to the ``special projects'' correction authority, and I look forward to working with the gentleman as the bill moves forward this year and on future appropriation bills.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, and I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume simply to say that with such persuasive statements from the gentlewoman and the gentleman from Tennessee, I have no objection to this amendment.